India, April 24 -- Close on the heels of the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 tourists dead and scores injured, an army special forces commando, havaldar Jhantu Ali Shaikh of 6 Para, was killed and two of his colleagues were critically injured in an encounter between terrorists and security forces in the Dudu-Basantgarh area of Udhampur district on Thursday morning.

The firing took place during a cordon and search operation launched based on information about the presence of terrorists.

"Based on specific intelligence, a joint operation with Jammu and Kashmir Police was launched in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur," the White Knight Corps posted on X. Contact was established and a fierce firefight ensued, it said.

"One of our bravehe...